Watch out for Medicare card calls and other scams

When we have investments, it is urgent to be able to trust our brokers. A friend once asked me whether I trusted mine. I was astonished at the question, because I have known the gentleman for many years; he was recommended, is credentialed and a friend.

It is important to know where our important documents are and what they say. We need to try to stay organized. That is not always easy to do. Papers pile up on the desk. It happens to me. I find that I do my best work in the morning. That is when some of us are freshest and can concentrate best. Everyone should find his/her own most productive time of day, when personal concentration is at its peak. That is the time to handle the complicated issues.

It is also urgent to stay connected, not only for reasons that spell good health, but for safety as well. When we are isolated from community, friends, neighbors, clergy and yes, even the letter carrier, there will be no one with which to share suspicions, no one to complain to and nobody to call adult protective services if we are in trouble.

We cannot stop what we do not report. To share your concerns, call the county’s Adult Protective Services division at (800) 510-2020. For more tips, order “Preventing & Reporting Elder Abuse,” a California Department of Justice & AARP publication. Download a copy of the guide for free at: